Stuck in the rut
Raymond Chandra
Canada
The indigenous Fijian children have always been marginalised and unfairly treated as less intelligent and lazy children by the education system of Fiji.
After more than 40 years of independence from foreign rule the education system of Fiji is still stuck in the rut of old, obsolete and unnecessary external examinations that were devised by foreigners for expediency in the last century.
These are the same archaic examinations that had always put the indigenous Fijian children at a serious disadvantage in the school system during the colonial days.
By reason of geography thousands of indigenous Fijian children live in and grow up in remote rural parts of Fiji where neither the schools nor the learning resources that are accessible are nearly as good as those that are available to children who live in or near towns and cities.
Many indigenous Fijian children who come from their villages to live in towns and cities find their adjustment challenging and often become lost in the shuffle.
In spite of all their hardships all indigenous Fijian children have always been required to compete in the education system of Fiji with other children a nd pass a series of unnecessary external examinations the likes of which are unheard of in other countries in the 21st century.
It is indeed hard to understand whether it is an indefinite absence of perspicacity or an indefinite presence of complacency that is still keeping the series of century-old external examinations in the school system of Fiji.
A closer look at the number of indigenous Fijian children who try their best but still fail these examinations and drop out and at the growing number of young indigenous Fijian men and women serving terms in correction facilities gives a clear picture of the damaging effects of these old, purposeless examinations.
$4/hr pay
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
The Trade Union wants the minimum wages to be increased from $2.32 to $4 per hour.
Most people will be happy with the kind of pay rise.
But do the union also realise what effect it will have on small business. My suggestion to the union would be to request the Ministry of Labour to check on businesses who are paying less then what is required to the poor workers.
I know of some workers who get $70/$80 for six days of work. With the unemployment problem that the young people of our country face, the $4 pay might put a lot of people without jobs.
Mother’s Day purpose
Pranil Ram, Nadi
While many mothers get a special treat on this special day, it is also time to remember those unfortunate mothers who are away from their families.
The key is to focus on the concept behind the treat instead of the actual treat. It is also a time to show mothers that they are appreciated. Mother’s Day is different for different people but it is important to recognise the work they do for their families. Their selfless love, affection and sacrifice are unmatched. Mother’s Day is just another day with a label attached. In fact everyday should be Mother’s Day.
While many Mother’s Day have come and gone, it comes with a single most important message – to realise the actual essence of Mother’s Day and cherish it.
Mother’s Day
Ashneel J Prasad, Auckland, NZ
My first baby steps. My first word. My first run. My first fall. She cries. My first day at school. My first heart-ache. My first prize. My first failure. She cries. My first job. My first salary. My first treat. My first promotion. She cries. My first vacation alone. My first night away. My first sickness. My first cough. She cries. My first fight with her. My first outburst. My first storming out. My first sorry. She cries. My first love, my Mother, not there, no more. One day I look back, I cry.
World views
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Zimbabwe is planning to print its own ‘US dollars’. No wonder Mugabe will rule till he dies.
River car find
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka
A SOPAC Sonar equipment was used to try and detect the missing car during a search conducted in 2006 but to no avail.
The missing Malaysian Airline plane is still not being found or located despite the use of some of the world’s most sophisticated technologies available known to mankind involving developed nations.
Last week, a diver in Navua was on his normal diving routine for fish by the Navua River but unbeknown to him that he was about to unearth a 10-year-old unresolved missing persons report through his own natural instinct, talent and abilities, contrary to claims of what our dear Navua AOG church Reverend mentioned with his blame game together with claims by the nephew of the deceased in the divers inability to locate the car in 2006 and the failure of the SOPAC Sonar to detect the car.
They have been taught a great biblical lesson that everything on this earth is subject to the Great Lord Jehovah’s time and his mercy. I only wished they could have gone further and dive the Navua River to help find the car and its contents a year later. We would not have waited 10 years.
Everyone else seems to have stolen the limelight apart from this mystery unsung hero. He has been totally eliminated and no one seems to bother finding him to get his side of the story so he can relay his heroic responsible act.
Indeed, whoever he is, he must be commended and rewarded for his findings, courage and honesty by the Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho to be acknowledged and appreciated publicly.
For a very long time, Navua is abuzz today if it was not for him, but businesses in Navua should compensate the mystery man the coconut wireless know.
Thank you brave Fijian son, very inspirational, a good deed which certainly deserves, in my personal opinion, a recommendation to our Excellency the President of Fiji’s College of Honours to award him a Medal of the Order of Fiji.
It’s only fitting.
Fort McMurray
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Delta, BC, Canada
The last news reported on TV out here is that the fire at Fort McMurray has spread and destroyed 156,000 hectares of land and over 100,000 residents have moved or evacuated with just the clothes they wear.
One refugee who fled her country to seek refuge in Alberta, Canada, said that she feels like one again, having lost everything.
With Fiji’s current recovery mode, I guess all we can do is to pray for divine intervention to stop the fire and for the affected residents, who will have to start over again from scratch.